Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has announced that government has secured budgetary support of KSh2.4 billion to facilitate deployment of medical interns.

In a statement to newsrooms on Tuesday evening, Koskei said all medical interns should pick their deployment letters from the Ministry of Health starting Thursday, April 4.

This comes as a ray of hope for doctors who have been on strike for the three weeks now, demanding posting of interns among other issues.

Koskei is also the chair of the Whole-of-the-Nation approach committee comprising of various stakeholders in efforts to resolve the health crisis.

The Head of Public Service, who spoke on behalf of the national government, further said all salary arrears accrued by national government in line with the 2017/2021 CBA had been cleared.

“Provided grants and scholarships for eligible postgraduate medical officers,” he added.

Koskei noted that this should be a show of good will to the striking medics that government is committed to addressing their demands.

Consequently, he asked the medics to resume work as deliberations progress.

“With that spirit in mind, the leadership of KMPDU is urged to comply with its obligations under the Court’s orders by immediately suspending the ongoing industrial action.”

KMPDU raised 19 issues before the county and national government, which Koskei said had been classified into different categories for deliberation.

“As part of its mandate, the Whole of the Nation Approach Committee has isolated the nineteen issues raised in the Notice of Industrial Action and thereafter classified and prioritized each issue, further assigning responsibility to each tier of Government. Six issues were classified to relate to the mandate of the national government, while nine issues were categorized to relate to the mandate of County Governments, and four issues fell under concurrent mandate,” Koskei explained.

Clinical officers and medical lab officers downed their tools on Monday this week in solidarity with doctors.